Jason Holley - 2007

Jason Holley is a full-time craftsperson working in St. John’s. He started as a street vendor selling macramé and beads on Water St. in 2001. After two years Jason discovered Chainmaille. He began taking evening art and craft classes at The Anna Templeton Centre and The Craft Council clay studio to develop his general and design skills. Jason completed the first year of the Textile Studies program of the College of the North Atlantic in 2006. These days he works almost exclusively in chainmaille, producing jewellery, clothing, and recently, ceramic “Claymaille”. His work has been shown extensively at the Craft Council Gallery (with his first solo exhibit in May 2006), in group fashion shows, and craft fairs in the St John’s area.

For this commission he has created five unique “claymaille” sculptures consisting of interconnected ceramic rings that have been raku-fired to resemble metal. In his submission statement Holley says: “I believe that these sculptures would be ideal for use as awards. They are solid and substantial in their image but they are fragile and need care and proper treatment to survive. This is how I feel about the arts community in Newfoundland and Labrador."